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UNL on 'top-producing list' for Fulbrights

UNL City Campus viewed from a crane in downtown Lincoln. Photo by Craig Chandler|University Communications

The Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, announced a complete list of colleges and universities that produced the most 2011-2012 U.S. Fulbright Students -- and UNL is on that list of the top 45 research institutions whose students were awarded Fulbright scholarships.

This news comes on top of the September announcement that UNL was listed in U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 28 institutions in the U.S. for undergraduate research and creative activities.

Laura Damuth, UNL’s fellowship adviser and director of undergraduate research, administers the Fulbright competition, advising students on their applications.

Eleven students from UNL won Fulbright awards for 2011-2012, making UNL the highest-ranking institution percentage-wise in the Big Ten, with 32 percent of scholars awarded from applications submitted. UNL submitted 34 applicants and officially 11 were awarded. Following UNL, Northwestern University had 27 percent; University of Illinois, 22 percent; University of Michigan, 20 percent; and University of Wisconsin, 19 percent. In the article, 9 UNL student scholars were listed, with a 26 percentage.

Almost 1,700 American students, artists and young professionals in more than 100 different fields of study have been offered Fulbright Program grants to study, teach English, and conduct research in more than 140 countries throughout the world beginning this fall.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 310,000 participants — chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. In the past 65 years, more than 44,000 students from the United States have benefited from the Fulbright experience.

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the United States Congress to the Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, composed of 12 educational and public leaders appointed by the President of the United States, formulates policies for the administration of the Fulbright Program, establishes criteria for the selection of candidates and approves candidates nominated for awards.

In the U.S., the Institute of International Education administers and coordinates the activities relevant to the U.S. Student Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, including conducting an annual competition for the scholarships.

The Fulbright Program also awards grants to American teachers and faculty to conduct research and teach overseas. In addition, some 3,850 new foreign Fulbright students and scholars come to the United States annually to study for graduate degrees, conduct research and teach at U.S. universities, colleges and secondary schools.